CHA(NGE)
Condos in high rises in the Loop
sit empty on weekdays
They know who’s important.
Flats in high rises near Division and Larrabee
sit empty too;
Flats in high rises near 39th and State
don’t even exist anymore
But they knew.
A few blocks
A few shades of skin color
A few hundred years.
Different worlds, different lives
Different responses to gunshots
and the “American Dream.”
The suits call for a transformation
and go to their front lawns and school
referendums and charity donations.
While communities are broken,
displaced, still destitute
but out of sight, off of valuable property,
until next time.
The free market for some,
a delicate illusion for others,
and a cage or cold stairwell for the rest.
It’s time we the people put the wrecking ball
to the whole damn thing.
